Automatic film processor having switchable transport path

ABSTRACT

An automatic film processor having a transport system for normally transporting sheets of film to be processed through a series of treatment stations in predetermined sequence, includes a movable guide element for altering the transport path to vary the sequence of processing steps for a selected sheet of film. The selected sheet can be provided with a distinctively colored leader, the presence of which is detected by a color-sensitive control system operative to alter the transport path, e.g., to divert the selected sheet of film away from the drier in the film processor and deliver it in wet condition to a catch tray.

1451 Jan. 15, 1974 United States Patent 11 1 Morioka 3,472,143 10/1969Hixon et a1. 95/89 R 3,639,061 2/1972 O'Brien et 95/89 R X 3,698,30610/1972 Fairbanks............................ 95/94 R Springfi ld,Primary Examiner-Fred L. Braun Attorney-Elliot I. Pollock Assignee: LogElectronics Inc [57] ABSTRACT An automatic film processor having atransport system [22] Filed: May 7, 1973 21 Appl. No.2 357,739

for normally transporting sheets of film to be pro- [30] ForeignApplication Priority Data cessed through a series of treatment stationsin prede- Oct. 31, 1972 termined sequence, includes a movable guideelement for altering the transport path to vary the sequence of [52 us.95/94 R, 95/89 R, 226/28 processing steps for a selected sheet of filmThe 51 Int. Cl. G03d 3/12 lected sheet can be provided with adistinctively [58] Field of 95/89 R, 94 R; ored leader, h p n f hich isde ected y a 226/27, 23; 355/10, 106 color-sensitive control systemoperative to alter the transport path, e.g., to divert the selectedsheet of film away from the drier in the film processor and deliver itin wet condition to a catch tray.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,913,974 11/1959 Sabel eta1. 95/94 R 10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENIEU JAN 15197 AUTOMATICFILM PROCESSOR HAVING SWITCIIABLE TRANSPORT PATH BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION Thelpresent invention relates to an improved form of automaticfilm processor comprising a transport system adapted to convey sheets offilm in succession through a developing tank, a fixing tank, and a washtank to a drier, and is more particularly concerned with an automaticswitching apparatus which is incorporated in the transport system forselectively interrupting the normal transportsequence in respect to aselected sheet of film to divert said selected sheet of film out of thenormal transport path.

Automatic film processors are now well known for the processing oflithographic film in graphic arts. Such processors are widely employedsince they automatically perform the desired film processing steps in adesired, predetermined sequence once a sheet of film to be processed isfed into the equipment, and also because the quality of processing isextremely stable. Usually, once a sheet of film is fed into theprocessor, the sheet is transported from .one to another treatmentstation to cause the sheet to be developed, fixed, washed, and driedwithout interruption; and the processed sheet of film is thereafterejected from the processor in completely finished and dried condition.

While this completely automatic nature of known film processors ishighly desirable, it is, under some circumstances, a disadvantage. Forexample, it is sometimes highly desirable to obtain access to aprocessed sheet of film immediately after the wash step of the process,while the film sheet is still wet. Film which carries a half-tone image,for use in printing pictures in various degress of density, is oftenretouched by so-called dot etching techniques after it is processed.This retouching is done by manually applying a reducer fluid tonecessary parts of the image, leaving said fluid in place for aprescribed period of time, and thereafter washing excessive reductionfluid off the film to terminate the reduction process. If the film to beretouched is obtained in dry condition from the automatic filmprocessor, it must be washed again during the retouching process; andthe prior drying step performed in the automatic film processor isactually wasted. A more serious difficulty, however, arises in that somefilm base materials may be subject to shrinkage, producing a decrease inthe true dimensions of the image thereon, as a result of recurrentwashing and drying.

For the reasons given above, it is desirable, in such cases, to be ableto switch the transport path so that a sheet of film which must besubject to dot etching can be diverted from its normal transport path,and removed from the processor, immediately after the wash step has beenperformed in the processor. Such alteration in the transport path givesrise to other problems, however. More particularly, when a large numberof sheets of film are being processed successively in an automatic filmprocessor, and when the different sheets include both half-tone andother images respectively, it becomes extremely difficult to switch thetransport system in a fashion which will properly discriminate betweenthe different types of image bearing sheets of film. This difficulty iscaused by the fact that it takes between two and three minutes for eachof the developing, fixing, washing, and drying steps to be performed inan automatic film processor, i.e., a total of six to nine minutes mayelapse between the time a particular sheet of film is fed into theprocessor and the time it has completed the wash step. Consequently,when sheets of film having different types of images thereon are fedinto a processor successively, it is impossible to switch the transportsystem concurrent with the feeding in of a sheet of film of given typesince this could disrupt the processing steps which must be performed inrespect of a sheet of film of different image type earlier fed into theprocessor and still being processed. This difficulty could be overcome,of course, by having an operator continually in attendance to manuallyswitch the transport system at a proper time so as to divert a selectedsheet of film away from the drier after the sheet has been washed; butthis type of control is not practical since it is troublesome, and sinceit detracts from and actually nullifies the labor-saving features whichcharacterize an automatic film processor.

The present invention is accordingly concerned with a mechanism which isautomatically operative to alter the transport path of a selected sheetof film when such alteration is desirable, thereby to eliminate any needfor manual control of the transport path, and which is operative todivert a selected sheet of film out of its normal transport path withoutdisrupting or altering the transport path for other sheets of film beingprocessed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, thetrans port system in an automatic film processor is modified to include,at a preselected position along the transport path, a movable guideelement, e.g., a pivotally mounted element, adapted to be moved by anelectrically energizable solenoid. When the solenoid is not energized,and the element is in its quiescent position, a sheet of film istransported in normal sequence through the various treatment steps inthe processor. However when the solenoid is energized, the guide elementis respositioned to divert a sheet of film out of said normal transportpath into an alternative path. In a preferred embodiment of theinvention, the guide element is located between the wash tank and drierin the processor so that when the element is in its quiescent position asheet of film is directed from the wash tank into the drier, and whenthe guide element is repositioned the sheet of film is diverted awayfrom the drier and into a catch tray disposed on the exterior of theprocessor.

Energization of the solenoid, to selectively alter the transport path,is controlled by a sensor mechanism disposed closely adjacent to theguide element at a position upstream thereof, and responsive to anindicium of predetermined character on a selected sheet of film beingprocessed for operating said guide element to its diverting position. Ina preferred embodiment of the invention, a leader having a distinctivecolor is attached to a sheet of film whose transport path is to bealtered; and the sensor mechanism comprises a color sensitivephotoelectric system which detects the presence of the distinctivelycolored leader as it is transported toward the movable guide element, tooperate the guide element to its diverting position as said leader andthe sheet of film attached thereto approach said guide element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The foregoing objects, advantages,construction and operation of the present invention will become morereadily apparent from the subsequent description and accompanyingdrawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view, in partial section, of an automatic filmprocessor transport system incorporating the present invention;

FIG. 2 diagrammatically illustrates the movable guide element andassociated control mechanism of the present invention;

FIG. 3 depicts a sheet of film having a colored leader attached theretofor controlling the switchable transport mechanism of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 4 is a block diagrammatic circuit representation, of the sensormechanism of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a vertical crosssectional view illustrating the film transport system of an automaticfilm processor incorporating the automatic switching apparatus of thepresent invention. The processor includes one or more developing tanks(not shown) followed by one or more fixing tanks (also not shown) whichare in turn followed by a wash tank 1 containing water 3. Te wash tank 1includes a plurality of rollers such as 4 and-6 associated with beltsand 7 constituting a portion of a conveyor system. Film which istransported from the fixing tank into wash tank 1 is accordingly washedin said tank and is thereafter normally conveyed to a drying tank 2which includes a further portion of the conveyor system, comprisingrollers such as 8, 10, 12 operative to drive associated belts such as 9,11, 13.

The foregoing elements of the processor are conventional. A sheet offilm to be processed is fed into the processor at a positionsignificantly upstream of wash tank 1, and is then transported by otherportions of the transport system into and through the developer tank(s),then into and through the fixing tank(s), and is thereafter transportedinto wash tank 1 at a position upstream of roller 6. The developed andfixed sheet of film is thereafter moved downwardly into the water bath3, is turned around at a position near the bottom of said bath, and isthen directed to a position between belts 5 and 7 and, being sandwichedtherebetween, is pulled vertically upward through the water bath 3 andout of wash tank 1. The washed sheet of film thereafer proceedsvertically along a guide 14 and is deflected thereby into a horizontalplane so as to pass between a first pair of squeegee rollers 15, 16along guide elements 22, 24 and thence through a further pair ofsqueegee rollers 17, 18. Water which is wiped from the surfaces of thefilm sheet is discharged from the squeegee rollers into a tray 19. Thesheet of film is then deflected downwardly by a further guide so as toenter the drying tank 2 at a position between belts 9 and 11, is drivendownwardly into said tank between belts 9 and 11, is turned around atthe bottom of the tank by a further guide mechanism (not shown) and isthereafter sandwiched between belts 11 and 13 so as to be moved upwardlythrough the drying tank. The dried sheet of film then proceeds out ofthe drying tank along the surface of a still further guide 21, and isdeflected into a horizontal plane so as to exit from the film processor.

The roller/belt elements shown in FIG. 1, similar such elements (notshown) associated with the developing and fixing tanks, and the varioussqueegee rollers constitute, together, a conveyor or transport system,and the several portions of that system operate synchronously with oneanother and in the direction indicated by the various arrows shown inFIG. 1.

In accordance with the modification of the present invention, the guidestructure provided between the pairs of squeegee rollers 15, 16 and 17,18 is made up of two guide elements, i.e., a fixed position guideelement 22, and a movable guide element 24. The movable guide element ismounted for pivotal'movement on a shaft 23, and is adapted to beselectively moved to the oblique position shown in broken line in FIG. 1so as to deflect a sheet of film passing along guide 22 away from thedrier 2 and, instead, toward a pair of further drive rollers 33, 34.When movable guide element 24 is in its broken-line position, therefore,a washed sheet of film is transported from wash tank 1 through squeegeerollers 15, 16 along guide 22, and is then directed upwardly along theupwardly pivoted guide element 24 toward the nip of drive rollers 33,34, whereafter the washed sheet of film, still in a wet state, passesover a further guide element 35 into a catch tray or pan 36 located onthe top cover 37 of the automatic film processor.

The guide structure which is disposed between the paired squeegeerollers 15, 16 and 17, 18 is shown in further detail in FIG. 2. Thehorizontal, fixed position -guide 22 comprises a plurality of barsdisposed in spaced relation to one another to define a horizontal planealong which the washed sheet of film is transported by the action ofsqueegee rollers 15, 16. Shaft 23 is mounted in said plane, and has aplurality of spaced bar-type guides 24 attached thereto at their innerends respectively. A crank arm 38 is attached to one end of shaft 23,and said arm 38 is provided with a groove which receives a pin attachedto the plunger 40 ofa solenoid 39. When the solenoid is in itsunenergized state, the various elements assume the position shown infull line in FIG. 2; but when solenoid 39 is energized, plunger 40retracts to reposition crank arm 38 to the position shown in broken lineadjacent thereto, thereby to pivot shaft 23 and swing bar-type guide 24to the oblique position also shown in broken line.

Solenoid 39 is selectively energized when it is desired to divert asheet of film away from drier 2 and out of the processor into catch tray36. Since only selected sheets of film are moved into this alternatetransport path, however, solenoid 39 should be energized, and guideelement 24 should be pivoted upwardly, only when such a selected sheetis approaching guide element 24. In order to accomplish this operation,each of said selected sheets of film is tagged" by an indicium ofpredetermined character; and a sensor system responsive to said indiciumis positioned immediately adjacent to and upstream of the guide element24 to energize solenoid 39 when such an indicium is detected. Thisaspect of the invention will now be discussed in further detail.

As shown in FIG. 3, a sheet of film 41 which needs no drying is taggedby the attachment thereto of a leader 42 having a color different fromthat of the film 41. Leader 42 may be a transparency, and it may beattached to the leading edge of film sheet 41 by means of a strip ofpressure sensitive tape 43, before the sheet 41 is fed into theprocessor. Leader 41 may, for example, be either a red or yellowtransparency.

The sensor system which is provided to detect the presence of coloredleader 42 comprises a light source housing 25 containing a lamp 26 and alens 27 positioned below fixed guide element 22 for directing a beam oflight upwardly between the bars of said fixed guide element 22 (see FIG.2). A light sensor 28 is mounted at a position above fixed guide 22,e.g., on the top cover 37 of the processor (see FIG. 1). Light sensor 28includes a half mirror 29, a further mirror 30 disposed above mirror 29,a red filter 31r disposed in the path of reflected light from mirror 29between said mirror 29 and a'photoelectric cell 32r, and a blue filter31b disposed in the path of reflected light from mirror 30 between saidmirror 30 and a photoelectric cell 32b. The output of photoelectric cell32r is connected to the input of a standard signal generator 44 (seeFIG. 4) the output of which is in turn coupled to one inout of AND gate47. The output of photoelectric cell 32b is similarly coupled to theinput of a standard signal generator 45, the output of which is invertedby an inverter 46 and thereafter applied to the other input of AND gate47. The output of gate 47 is coupled to an appropriate amplifier (notshown) and may be used to control a relay (not shown) for selectivelyenergizing solenoid 39.

Let us first assume that no sheet of film is present on fixed guide 22.Under these operating conditions, light from source 25 will be reflectedby both mirrors 29 and 30 through filters 31r and 31b onto bothphotoelectric cells 32r and 32b. The two photoelectric cells areadjusted to generate equal, or balanced, photoelectric currents at theiroutputs under these operating conditions. The two signal generators 44and 45 will, accordingly, provide like output signals but, due to theaction of inverter 46, only a single input signal of proper polaritywill be applied to gate 47. When no film is present on fixed guide 22,therefore, gate 47 will not produce an output and solenoid 39 will notbe energized.

When a sheet of black and whilte film is present on fixed guide 22, thesame operation will occur. Those portions of the sheet which arecomparatively transparent to light will cause the system to operate inthe fashion already described. Those portions of the film which arecomparatively opaque will block light from light source 25 and will,accordingly, cause the photoelectric currents of both cells 32r and 32bto cease, thereby producing an identical end result. Thus, solenoid 39will remain in its de-energized state when no sheet of film is presenton guide 22, or when a sheet of conventional black and whilte film istransported onto said guide 22.

Let us now assume, however, that the sheet of film being transportedthrough the system takes the form shown in FIG. 3. When the coloredleader 42 passes onto fixed guide 22 the red light (or yellow light, asthe.

case may be) which is now directed from said leader onto mirrors 29 and30 will penetrate the red filter 3lr just as well as white light, butsaid colored light cannot penetrate blue filter 31b. As a result onlyphotoelectric cell 32r will produce an output, while the output fromcell 32b will cease. Under this condition of operation, the signaloutput from cell 32r will cause signal genera tor 44 to apply a signalto one input of gate 47, and the absence of an output from cell 32b willcause inverter 46 to apply a signal to the other input of gate 47. Underthis condition of operation i.e., when only one of the two photoelectriccells has an output, the gate 47 will produce an output signal which, inthe fashion already described, can be used to energize solenoid 39. As aresult, when colored leader 42 is transported onto fixed guide 22,movable guide 24 will be immediately redirected to its oblique positionso as to transport leader 42 and its attached film sheet 41 upwardlythrough rollers 33, 34 and into catch tray 36.

The guide 24 returns to its original position, e.g., under the influenceof gravity or by means of an added spring, after the output from gate 47ceases. The length of the leader should be so selected that the leadingedge of leader 42 will reach the nip of drive rollers 33, 34 by thistime. The films being processed in normal fashion must have a lengthsufficient to bridge the gap between rollers l5, l6 and 17, 18.Similarly, when a sheet of film is associated with a colored leader forthe purposes stated, the resultant composite film sheet must have asufficient length to bridge the gas between rollers 15, 16 and 33, 34.

The leader must, of course, be attached manually before the selectedsheet of film 41 is fed into the processor. This requisite preliminarytask can, however, be accomplished with little difficulty, and theadvantages which are achieved by use of the invention more thancompensate for the time required to prepare the selected film sheet.

While I have thus described a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, many variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.The foregoing description is accordingly intended to be illustrativeonly and not limitative of the present invention, and all suchvariations and modifications as are in accord with the principlesdescribed are meant to fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim:

1. An automatic film processor comprising a plurality of film treatmentstations, transport means for normally transporting sheets of film to beprocessed along a predetermined path between and through said stationsthereby to effect processing of each of said film sheets in apredetermined sequence of steps, said transport means includingswitchable means for selectively altering said transport path, andcontrol means responsive to an indicium of predetermined character on aselected sheet of the film being processed for operating said switchablemeans to alter the transport path for said selected sheet of filmthereby to vary the sequence of processing steps for said selected sheetof film.

2. The processor of claim 1 wherein one of said treatment stationscomprises a drier, said switchable means being located adjacent theentry of said drier for diverting said selected sheet of film away fromsaid drier.

3. The processor of claim 2 wherein said switchable means includes afirst pair of superposed drive rollers disposed adjacent the entry ofsaid drier, a second pair of superposed drive rollers disposed adjacenta catch tray, a movable guide element upstream of both of said pairs ofrollers and normally positioned in line with the nip of said first pairof rollers, said guide element being mounted for movement to a positionin line with the nip of said second pair of rollers, and operator meansresponsive to said indicium of predetermined character for selectivelymoving said guide element to direct said selected sheet of film intosaid catch tray via said second pair of rollers instead of into saiddrier via said first pair of rollers.

4. The processor of claim 3 wherein said indicium of predeterminedcharacter comprises a distinctively colored leader attached to saidselected sheet of film, said control means comprising color sensingmeans for selectively generating a control signal in response to thepresence of said colored leader, said operator means comprising asolenoid connected to said movable guide element, and means responsiveto the generation of said control signal for energizing said solenoid tomove said guide element.

5. The processor of claim 4 wherein said guide element is mountedfor'pivotal movement.

6. The processor of claim 1 wherein said switchable means comprises amovable guide element normally disposed in line with said predeterminedpath, said control means being operable to move said guide element awayfrom said predetermined path thereby to divert said selected sheet offilm into an alternative transport path.

7. The processor of claim 6 wherein said indicium of predeterminedcharacter comprises a distinctive leader attached to said selected sheetof film.

8. The processor of claim 7 wherein said leader has a distinctive color,said control means including color sensing means disposed adjacent theupstream end of said movable guide element.

9. The processor of claim 8 wherein said distinctively colored leader istransparent to light, said color sensing means comprising a light sourceon one side of said normal transport path, color filter means disposedon the other side of said normal transport path, and photoelectric meansselectively responsive to light projected thereon from said source viasaid colored leader and thence via said color filter means forgenerating a control signal, said control means including solenoid meansresponsive to said control signal for moving said guide element.

10. The processor of claim 9 wherein said color filter means comprises apair of differently colored filters, optical means for directing lightpassing from said source-across said transport path through both of saidfilters in parallel, said photoelectric means comprising a pair ofphotoelectric sensors disposed adjacent said pair of filtersrespectively and responsive to light passing through said filtersrespectively for producing output signals, and circuit means coupled tothe outputs of said pair of sensors for inhibiting the generation ofsaid control signal when both of said sensors produce an output signaland for generating said control signal when only one of said sensorsproduces an output signateg- Januar 15, 1974 Patent Nog 1 69 Inventofls)Manslalmi M i k If is certified that error appears in thebbve-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby correctedas shown below:

In lthe Heading:

A Iterc [73 change "Log Electronics Inc. to

, LogEtronics Inc.

s gned rid sealed this 30th day of Jul -1971p.

L) .t t,e'st: COY M GIBSON JR. C. MARSHALL DANN testing OfficrCommissioner of Patents UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OFCORRECTION Patent No. 5,26 d- January 15, 1974 InVent Masami Morioka Itis Certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Inflthe Heading:

Iterfi [73] change "Log Electronics Inc. to LogEtro nics Inc.

v I Signed and sealed this 30th day of July 197 AL) Attest: U McCOY M.GIBSON, JR, I c. MIIRSIIALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents

1. An automatic film processor comprising a plurality of film treatmentstations, transport means for normally transporting sheets of film to beprocessed along a predetermined path between and through said stationsthereby to effect processing of each of said film sheets in apredetermined sequence of steps, said transport means includingswitchable means for selectively altering said transport path, andcontrol means responsive to an indicium of predetermined character on aselected sheet of the film being processed for operating said switchablemeans to alter the transport path for said selected sheet of filmthereby to vary the sequence of processing steps for said selected sheetof film.
 2. The processor of claim 1 wherein one of said treatmentstations comprises a drier, said switchable means being located adjacentthe entry of said drier for diverting said selected sheet of film awayfrom said drier.
 3. The processor of claim 2 wherein said switchablemeans includes a first pair of superposed drive rollers disposedadjacent the entry of said drier, a second pair of superposed driverollers disposed adjacent a catch tray, a movable guide element upstreamof both of said pairs of rollers and normally positioned in line withthe nip of said first pair of rollers, said guide element being mountedfor movement to a position in line with the nip of said second pair ofrollers, and operator means responsive to said indicium of predeterminedcharacter for selectively moving said guide element to direct saidselected sheet of film into said catch tray via said second pair ofrollers instead of into said drier via said first pair of rollers. 4.The processor of claim 3 wherein said indicium of predeterminedcharacter comprises a distinctively colored leader attached to saidselected sheet of film, said control means comprising color sensingmeans for selectively generating a control signal in response to thepresence of said colored leader, said operator means comprising asolenoid connected to said movable guide element, and means responsiveto the generation of said control signal for energizing said solenoid tomove said guide element.
 5. The processor of claim 4 wherein said guideelement is mounted for pivotal movement.
 6. The processor of claim 1wherein said switchable means comprises a movable guide element normallydisposed in line with said predetermined path, said control means beingoperable to move said guide element away from said predetermined paththereby to divert said selected sheet of film into an alternativetransport path.
 7. The processor of claim 6 wherein said indicium ofpredetermined character comprises a distinctive leader attached to saidselected sheet of film.
 8. The processor of claim 7 wherein said leaderhas a distinctive color, said control means including color sensingmeans disposed adjacent the upstream end of said movable guide element.9. The processor of claim 8 wherein said distinctively colored leader istransparent to light, said color sensing means comprising a light sourceon one side of said normal transport path, color filter means disposedon the other side of said normal transport path, and photoelectric meansselectively responsive to light projected thereon from said source viasaid colored leader and thence via said color filter means forgenerating a control signal, said control means including solenoid meansresponsive to said control signal for moving said guide element.
 10. Theprocessor of claim 9 wherein said color filter means comprises a pair ofdifferently colored filters, optical means for directing light passingfrom said source across said transport patH through both of said filtersin parallel, said photoelectric means comprising a pair of photoelectricsensors disposed adjacent said pair of filters respectively andresponsive to light passing through said filters respectively forproducing output signals, and circuit means coupled to the outputs ofsaid pair of sensors for inhibiting the generation of said controlsignal when both of said sensors produce an output signal and forgenerating said control signal when only one of said sensors produces anoutput signal.